Indianapolis, despite its 10 straight victories, is still considered a finesse team that likes to jab and dance its way to winning with a velvet hammer. If any f you follow the CFL you will know that the BC Lions went 11 and O before going on 1 and 7 and finally bowing out in the Western Final. Will the Colts be the Southern version of the BC Lions?
That provides a nice contrast of styles Monday night when the Colts host Pittsburgh, a team that throws haymakers and embodies toughness.
This game has enough luster as it is. However, it could have been a battle of unbeaten teams with a few bounces of the ball. The Steelers’ three losses this season have all occurred on the game's final play.
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to start after missing the last three games following knee surgery. Steelers coach Bill Cowher is 6-0 against Indianapolis. Roethlisberger is 18-1 in his career, including a 9-0 road record.
The Colts will try to become the 11th team in NFL history, and first since the 1988 Denver Broncos, to open a season with 11 straight victories.
Indianapolis won its first seven games against opponents who currently have a combined 23-47 record. The Colts proved that was no fluke this month after victories over defending champ New England and Cincinnati.
The Steelers will come at Indianapolis with an offensive line whose slightest starting member is 299-pound center Jeff Hartings. Pittsburgh will alternate running backs Willie Parker, Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley, who average 235 pounds.
Cowher's biggest dilemma is who to try and stop, Peyton Manning and his deep corps of receivers, or versatile running back Edgerrin James. Manning showed against the Bengals what happens when the defense focuses on James. He rose to the occasion, picking apart a strong Cincinnati secondary for 365 yards and three touchdowns.
The Colts showed they can still win a high-scoring game when their defense yielded season highs in both points and total yardage (492).
Pittsburgh's zone blitzing scheme is fifth in the NFL with 30 sacks. The Steelers are third in scoring defense at 16.1 points allowed per game and total yards allowed with a 290.7 average. Pittsburgh has also not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 22 consecutive games.
The Steelers are 4-1 both straight-up and against the spread on the road. The Colts have failed to cash three of their first four at the RCA Dome.
Indianapolis has topped the total in its last five games after ducking 'under' in its first five outings. Pittsburgh has taken the low road in four of its first five away from home.
Most offshore books opened the Colts as a seven-point favorite, with the total set at 46. That number ballooned to as high as 8 1/2 by the end of the week and the total has risen to 47.
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